title: High resectability of colorectal liver metastases with aggressive chemotherapy in the era of molecular target-based agents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Advances in chemotherapy have expanded the resectability of colorectal liver (CRC) metastases. We studied treatment results in CRC patients with liver metastases in the era of molecular target-based agents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on data collected retrospectively, we analyzed the demographics, operative and pathological outcomes, and adjuvant chemotherapy, of 91 consecutive CRC patients with liver metastases treated between January, 2008 and June, 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 91 patients, 42 (46.2%) underwent liver resection (group 1), 41 underwent only resection of the primary tumor without hepatectomy (group 2), and 8 underwent palliative surgery (group 3). According to multivariate analysis, resection of liver metastases was significantly influenced by the number of metastases and the existence of extrahepatic metastases. Disease-free survival (DFS) differed significantly between patients who received adjuvant therapy and those treated by surgery alone (p<0.001). The regimen (p=0.01) and duration (p<0.0001) of adjuvant chemotherapy also affected DFS. Overall survival after 1 and 3 years was 97.6% and 94.0%, respectively, in group 1, 71.9% and 30.6% in group 2, and 33.3% and 0% in group 3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the observation period was short, our findings suggest that high resectability and effective chemotherapy will prolong the survival of patients with colorectal liver metastases.
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ochiai
authors.forename: Kazutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kumagai
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mitsunori
authors.forename: Arihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aihara
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arii
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate